Hydrant



A118- 25 1953 N. M. ANDERSON 2,649,768

' HYDRANT FiledAug'. 30, 1950 Patented ug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

Noel M. Anderson, Des Moines, Iowa Application August 30, 1950, SerialNo. 182,261

7 Claims.

My invention relates to hydrants and is an improvement over the devicedisclosed in my copending application on a Yard Hydrant led July 16,1949, and having application Serial Number 'Hydrants are not new andhave long been used in connection with large water systems. However, aselectric power has now made it possible, especially for farmers, to pumpwater from their own wellsfunder pressure, individual yard hydrants havebecome increasingly more commonplace.

The beneiits of a water system to the farmer cannot be utilized unlesshe can deliver the water where it is needed, such as the watering troughorwin his barn or the like. Thus, to have water available when and wherehe needs it, a yard hydrant is usually located at selected sites.Obviously, such sites are frequently in the open and thereforeprecautions must be taken to prevent ice from forming in the hydrantduring cold weather and thereby rendering it inoperable. This lis doneby placing the lower Valve portion in the ground below the frost line orby placing it in a covered pit adjacent the pump, and having only theupper nozzle part extending above the surface. Also, present type yardhydrants are provided with a drain hole in the valve seat body to carryofT" ythe water left in the standpipeV after the valve is closed. Thishole also serves as a place for water to drain out. into the ground inthe eventof any leakage around the valve seat washer. This latterpurpose is necessary for while valves are not supposed to leak theyfrequently do, and if the Iwater from such a leak should rise in thestandpipe above the frost line, it will freeze in cold weather.

However, most present type yard hydrants having the features aboveenumerated have several disadvantages, particularly for the farmer,which I will endeavor to point out.

Quite frequently a farmer will desire to turn vhis hydrant on for acontinuous slow flow such Y as for a milk-cooling tank or keep-ing awatering trough at a desired level or the like, and when this is done,asV it frequently is, the hydrant becomes in effect nothing more than aconduit. To do this, however, will often result in a considerableleakage and loss of water .through thedrain hole in the valve seat body.This is true because most present type hydrants Aare constructed so.that the valve assembly on the valve steml running .to the valve seatwill close ofi' the drain hole only when the valve is substantiallyfully opened. Consequently, if the Valve is onlyl partially open lasubstantial amount of water passes out through the drain hole 4as wellas out of the nozzle. This handle, and

is an important factor vwhen water is pumped from a well because themore water lost through leakage, the more-the pump will operate, and incase of a low water supply the unnecessary waste of water can becomecritical. Y

In some present type hydrants a sleeve of rubber or the like arranged onthe valve assembly is designed to close offr the drain hole when thevalve is open and such a construction will function substantiallysatisfactorily when the hydrant is used intermittently, but when thehydrant is opened for a continuous flow5 experience has shown that thelcontinuous constant pressure against the sleeve eventually results inwater nding its way into the drain hole where it is not only wasted, butunnecessarily saturates the ground adjacent the drain outlet whichobviously adversely affects the eiciency of drainage at this point.

These objects I have overcome by my invention, the principal object ofwhich is to provide an improved means for preventing the escape of waterthrough the drain hole in a hydrant when the hydrant valve is in openposition.

More particularly my invention has special utility when the hydrantvalve is open for eX- tended periods of time.

Specifically my invention embodies the use of a pair of cup washers,preferablyl made from a resilient materialsuch as leather or the like,with these Washers mounted on the valve stem so that they are adjacenteach other and their cupped portions extend in opposite directions. kAtleast one of these washers is capable of closing the drain hole when thehydrant valve is open and the Washers are arranged so that theirrespective cupped portionsare in the path of flow of water toward thedrain hole both from the source of supply-and fromthe hydrant standpipe.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combinationof the various parts of thedevice, whereby the objects contemplated areattained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figrl is a perspective View of this device ready for use, A l Y.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Fig. l of this deviceshowing the valve in closed position, with the dotted lines in the upperportion of the figure indicating the open position of the lever Fig; 3is Yan' enlarged cross-section view of the Vvalve assemblyin Fig. 2 ofthis device but showing'the valve irl open 'position and showing the.position 'of the double cup washer arrangement in respect tothe drainhole.

`Referring .toVv the drawings I have used the numeral l0 to designatethe standard water main pipe through which water is pumped underpressure. The numeral II designates a valve seat body housing providedwith the U-shaped channel I2 that communicates with the inlet and outletportions of the housing, as shown in Fig. 3. The inside of the inlet andoutlet portions of the housing I I are threaded so that the inletportion can be secured to the pipe I and the outlet portion cancommunicate with the standpipe I3. The numeral I4 designates a standpipedrain hole provided in the housing II. PreferablyV I have threaded thisdrain hole so that a drain pipe can be secured thereto if desired. Anozzle is provided comprising the integrally formed portions, consistingof a jacket head chamber I5, the nozzle I6 that is threaded on itsoutside end portion, the water channel II, a U-shaped open portion thathas a bottom surface I8 in common with the top surface of the headchamber I5, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, and two spaced aparthorizontal bearing ears I9 above the U- shaped open portion to form thetop of the nozzie head. The purpose of this open portion will be laterdescribed in detail.

The pipe I3 at its upper end communicates with the lower portion of thehead chamber I and at its lower end with the housing II, as heretoforedescribed, thus forming a continuous water channel from the pipe I0 tothe nozzle I6.

The numeral 20 designates a valve stem that is threaded at its upper endand arranged within the standpipe I3. The upper threaded end portion ofthis valve stem 2|] slidably extends up through the head chamber I5 andprotrudes .-.a

above the surface I8 of the head chamber I5, as shown in Fig. 2. Thenumeral 2I designates a standard water-tight gland consisting of thegland packing and gland nut sleeve arranged within the head chamber I5.In Fig. 2 I show a connecting sleeve 22 because I preferably use a brassrod for the valve stem above the sleeve 22 while the portion below is ofany suitably material. However, this is not necessarily required and thevalve stem can be in one piece, if desired. My purpose in using thebrass portion just described is not only for additional strength butbecause it will not rust, whereas many other types of tubing or pipewill rust and this in turn tends to tear the packing and therebyincrease the possibility of leakage at this point. Also, if the valvestem is not formed from one piece of metal, the diierent portions may bethe same size orrdiiferent, and if different then an adapter sleeve mustbe used to join them together.

The lower end of the valve stem extends down into the housing II, butnot into chamber I2, and is operatively associated with the valve andplunger assembly which I will now describe. The

'numeral 23 designates a sleeve secured to the bottom of the valve stem,and the numeral 24 designates a cylindrical plunger threaded to thelower portion of the sleeve 23 and arranged within the housing I I, asshown in Fig. 3. The sleeve 23 and plunger 24 can be made in one pieceas well as in two, as shown in my drawings, without affecting itsfunction or efliciency. The numeral 25 designates an inwardly extendingcircumscribing lip formed in the lower inside end portion of the plungerand the numeral 26 desof the plunger 24 and the bolt shank extendsdownwardly through the lower reduced portion 28 of the plunger and islikewise vertically slidable and rotatable therein.

The numerals 29 and 30 respectively designate a pair of cup washers andtheir arrangement in this device constitutes the novel feature of thisinvention.

Metal washers 3I and 32 are arranged on the bolt so that the upper one3| engages the bottom of the reduced portion 28 of the plunger. Whileonly one of the Washers 3l and 32 is necessary, I have illustrated theuse of two merely to point out how morethan one can be used to increasetension on the coil spring which I will later describe. The cup washer29 is mounted on the bolt 26 with the cup portion up as shown in Fig. 3.The washer 33 is likewise mounted on the bolt and is adjacent the washer29 butinverted in relation thereto so that its open portion extendsdownwardly as illustrated. A metal washer 34 is mounted on the bolt 26and positioned within the confines of the cup washer 30. Each of thesecup washers are of such a diameter as to frictionally slidably engagethe inner wall 33 of the housing I I and to also slidably frictionallyengage the perimeter of the shank o'f bolt 25. The numeral 35 designatesa iiat retaining washer threaded to the end of the bolt 2B and thenumeral 36 designates a coil spring arranged on the bolt 2B and havingone end in communication with the washer 36 and its other end incommunication with the bottom of the metal washer 34, as shown in Fig. 2and Fig. 3. The numeral 31 designates a valve seat rubber washerdetachably secured to the bottom of the bolt 26 by the stud screw 38.

The numeral 33 designates a lever handle member shaped substantially asshown in Fig. 2. The sides of the upper end portion of the handle 39 areat and each of these sides are machined to form a stub shaft 40 thatprojects laterally therefrom. The numeral 4I designates a block bearingmember that has a threaded holo through it, and a boss portion 42 formedon two opposite sides thereof. The numeral 43 designates two flatrectangular metal strap link members provided with holes in eachrespective end portions. The bearing member 4I is threaded to the top ofthe valve stem 20 where it protrudes above the surface I8. One end ofone of the link members 43 is arranged on one of the boss members 42 andthe other end thereof is arranged on one of the stub shafts 40. Ihesecond link member 43 is similarly arranged on the opposite side on theboss and stub shaft of the bearing member and handle respectively. Thestub shaft portion of the handle is eccentrically arranged between thebearing ears I9 by means of the bolt and nut 44, as shown in Fig. l andFig. 2. In this position the bearing ears I9 serve to keep the straplink member in place and no other securing means for this purpose isnecessary.

My hydrant constructed and assembled as above described will operate inthe following manner. The raising or lowering of the valve stem by meansof the lever handle 39 will, of course, raise or lower the valve seatwasher to control the flow of water under pressure from ignates allister head bolt slidably protruding Y from the bottom of the plunger24 with .the bolt head resting on the lip 25, as shown in Fig. 3. Bythis arrangement the bolt head is vertically sli-dable and rotatablewithin the chamber 21 the pipe IIJ, as desired. As the handle is raised,it will, because of the eccentric, raise the strap link member 43 whichin turn will raise the bearing member 4I that is threaded to the valvestem, thereby opening the valve. The handle will remain at any degree ofopen Vposition desired s without any catches,l springs, hooks or thelike and the pressure of the water on the valve will not be able to openit any further because of the counter-balancing resistance offered bythe handle due to the manner invwhich it is mounted.

The bearing member 4I provides a means for.

adjusting the valve seat washer when it is first installed and later ifit should become unduly worn and compressed. In iirst installing thevalve if it should be found that the valve seat washer does not t tightenough, or later when the washer may have become worn, the bearingmember can be rotated counterclockwise to lengthen the valve stem andlikewise if the lwasher nts too tightly the bearing member can berotated clockwise to shorten the valve stem. To thus have easy access tothis bearing member I have positioned it above the head chamber I5 inthe U-shaped open portion of the nozzle head above referred to.

It will be noted that when the valve is in closed position, as shown inFig. 2, that the standpipe drain hole I4 in the housing Il is notcovered by the cup washer 29. However, the washer 29 will close thisdrain hole as it rises with the opening of the valve and as the valve isclosed, this washer passes below the drain hole to permit the water inthe standpipe to drain out. In this operation it should also be notedthat before the cup washer 29 closes the drain hole in its upwardmovement it must of necessity travel the short distance to the hole andthus in present type hydrants if a slight opening of the valve isdesired for a continuous slow ilow, the drain hole will either be onlypartially closed or not closed at all because the valve seat washermoves in unison with the sleeve for covering the drain hole, therebycreating the disadvantages hereto mentioned.

In my device, however, the valveseat washer 31 and valve stem 20 do notalways move in unison for, as I will point out, the washer 31 isstationary at times when the valve stem 29 may be moving either upwardlyor downwardly. In Fig. 2, this hydrant is shown in closed position withthe handle 39 down, the washer 31 is seated, the spring 36 is compressedand the washer 29 is below the drain hole I4. Also in closed position,the head of bolt 26 is in the upper portion of chamber 21. As the handle39 is then raised, the valve stem 2G, sleeve 23 and plunger 24 all beingconnected together, will rise accordingly as will the washers 29 and 30which are held in tight engagement with the bottom of the plungerportion 28 as above described. The washers 29 and 36 move upwardly withthe valve stem 20 since the raising of this stem releases pressure onthe spring which urges Ythe washers 2S and 30 upwardly. The effect ofthe spring is of course double acting so that in the initial upwardmovement of the valve stem 2D the washer 31 is held in seated positionand remains there until the slack between the head of the bolt 26 andthe lip 25 is taken up. This slack is suiicient for the washer 29 tocompletely close the drain hole Id before the lip 25 engages the bolt 26at which time the washer 31 will Ythen rise in unison with movement ofthe' valve stem 20. Thus, it will be observed that the washer 31 may beunseated to obtain any desired ilow and maintained thereat withoutpermitting leakage at the drain hole which is closed prior to theunseating of the washer 31.

When o losing thishydrant, the vwashers 31,

29, and 30 and plunger 24 will move initially in unison because theplunger portion 2B engages the washers 3| and 32 that transmit forcethrough washers 29 and 30, through washer 34 to the spring 36 whichcompresses as it seats washer 31. The washer 31 will seat before thehandle 39 is fully lowered and as the handle is continued downwardly,the spring 36 is further compressed and the plunger moves downwardly onthe shank of bolt 28 to create slack between the head of the bolt andlip 25 in chamber 21 as above described. 'Ihe washers 29 and 30 movedownwardly with the plunger and open the drain hole I4 when the handle39 is fully lowered.

It will also be observed that this spring being compressed when thevalve is closed is constantly exerting a downwardly pressure on thevalve seat washer. Consequently, if the valve seat washer begins towear, the tension in the coil spring will automatically tend to maintainit tightly in the valve seat and compensate for wear, thereby prolongingthe useful life of the washer and more important, providing anadditional safeguard against preventing leakage and the resulting wasteof valuable water. Should the valve seat washer become worn to a degreegreater than the coil spring can compensate for, then an additionalmanual adjustment can be made by the bearing member at the top of thevalve stem as previously described.

It will also be observed that when the lever handle is moved to closethe valve, this spring absorbs some of the pressure therefrom so thatthe valve seat rubber washer 31 is eased onto the valve seat and cannotbe jammed into closed position. This effect considerably prolongs thelife of the washer 31.

Once in its open position this hydrant may be left in that positionindefinitely without danger of losing water through the drain hole andthis is due tothe arrangement of the two cup washers 29 and 30. With acontinuous flow of water through the housing II from the pipe I0, thebulk of the water will of course flow through the channel I2 into thestandpipe. However, there is obviously water pressure against the bottomofthe valve and around the plunger 24 and it is at these points wherethe pressure eventually forces water to the drain hole in most currenttype hydrants. In my device, however, the inverted cup washer 38 forms atight seal against the inner wall 33 below the drain hole I4 and waterunder pressure from below merely lls this cup washer and thereby furtherincreases the frictional contact thereof against the wall 33 to preventany leakage through the hole I4. The cup washer 29 will in a similarmanner seal '01T the drain hole from above.- Itwill also be observedthat due to the manner of mounting the washers 29 and 30 on the shank ofbolt 26 as above described, that there is no leakage of waterintermediate the bolt shank and these washers so that all flow of1wlaater to the nozzle must pass through channe I I Thus, inrny devicethe cupped portion of the rrespective washers will be in the path offlow ats/raves The handle on my invention is shaped so that it can beeasily grasped by hand and because of its position relative to thenozzle head, its open or closed position can be ascertained merely byvisual observation. This is of great advantage at times to the farmerwho may wish to look across his barn or yard area to see whether hishydrant is on or on. I also wish to point out that due to the swivelarrangement of the bolt 26 within the plunger 24, there is no twistingof the washer 31 on its valve seat when the hydrant head is removed forrepairs or inspection. Obviously if the head is rotated to remove itfrom the standpipe and withdraw the valve stem 2t and valve assembly,the stem 20 and plunger will rotate. Normally, the washer 3l wouldlikewise rotate and thus cause undue wear thereon. However, in myarrangement, the washer 31 being secured to the bolt 26 remainsstationary even though the plunger rotates and thus is a safeguard forprolonging the useful life thereof.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of myhydrant without departing from the real spirit and purpose of myinvention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination `with a valve housing having an inlet and an outletconnected by a C-shaped channel and a side drain hole oppositelydisposed from said channel and communicating only with said outlet, avalve assembly, com,- prising, a Valve stem slidably disposed in saidhousing in the same plane as a -direct line between said inlet andoutlet, means for moving the same in two vertical directionsrespectively, a cylindrical plunger secured to the bottom of said valvestem, an internal shoulder in said plunger, a bolt having its headportion slidable and rotatable within said plunger intermediate saidshoulder and the bottom of said valve stem, said bolt head portionengageable with said shoulder, a pair of cupped washers frictionallyslidably arranged on the shank portion ef said bolt, said washers beingadjacent each other and having their cupped portions extending inopposite directions, a irst disc washer on said bolt within the confinesof the upper cupped washer, a second disc washer on said bolt within theconnes of said lower cupped washer, a third washer on the bottom of saidbolt adapted to seat at times in said inlet, a yielding means on saidbolt having one end engaging said second disc washer and the other endengaging said third washer, each of said cupped washers blocking theflow of water therepast from one direction respectively, said yieldingmeans compressed by said plunger, said bolt head portion out ofengagement with said shoulder, said third washer seated and said drainhole open when said valve stem is in its lowermost position, and whensaid valve stem is being moved towards its uppermost position, said boltinitially remaining stationary under temion of the expanding yieldingmember to hold said third washer seated while said cupped washers moveupwardly on said bolt'shank under pressure or" said eX- panding yieldingmeans so that at least the upper cupped washer closes said drain holeand after which said shoulder engagesl said bolt head portion to movethe same upwardlyin unison 8 with said Valve stem and unseat said thirdwasher.

2. A device as dened in claim 1 in which when said valve stem is beingmoved from its uppermost to lowermost position, said bolt initiallymoves downwardly therewith under contact of said plunger on said rstdisc washer until said third washer is seated and thereupon remainsstationary while Said plunger continues to move downwardly to compresssaid yielding means and move said cupped washers past said drain hole toopen the same.

3. In combination with a valve housing having an inlet and an outletconnected by a C-shaped channel and a side drain hole oppositelydisposed rom said channel and communicating only with said outlet, avalve assembly, comprising, ,a valve stem slidably disposed in saidhousing in the same plane as a direct line between said inlet andoutlet, means for moving the same in two Vertical directionsrespectively, a cylindrical plunger secured to the bottom of said valvestem, an internal shoulder in said plunger, a bolt having its headportion slidable and rotatable within said plunger intermediate saidshoulder and the bottom of said valve stem, said bolt head portionengageable with said shoulder, a pair of cupped washers frictionallyslidably arranged on the shank portion of said bolt, said washers beingadjacent each other and having their cupped portions extending inopposite directions, a third washer on the bottom of said bolt adaptedto seat at times in said inlet, a yielding means on said bolt having oneend engaging one of said cupped washers and the other end engaging saidthird washer, each of said cupped washers blocking the ow of watertherepast from one direction respectively, said yielding meanscompressed by said plunger, said bolt head portion out of engagementwith said shoulder, said third washer seated and said drain hole openwhen said valve stem is in its lowermost position, and when said valvestem is being moved towards its uppermost position, said bolt initiallyremaining stationary under tension of the expanding yielding member tohold said third washer `seated while said cupped washers move upwardlyon said bolt shank under pressure of said expanding yielding means sothat at least the upper cupped washer closes said drain hole and afterwhich said shoulder engages said bolt head portion to move the sameupwardly in unison with said valve stem and unseat said third washer.

4. In combination with a valve housing having an inlet and an outletconnected by a water channel and having a side drain hole communieatingonly with said outlet, a valve assembly, comp-rising, a valve stemslidably disposed in said housing, means for moving the same in twovertical directions respectively, a cylindrical plunger secured to thebottom of said valve stem, an internal shoulder in said plunger, a bolthaving its head portion slidable and rotatable within said plungerintermediate said shoulder and the bottom of said valve stem, said bolthead portion engageable with said shoulder, a pair of cupped washersfrictionally slidably arranged on the shank portion of said bolt, saidwashers being adjacent each other and having their cupped portionsextending in opposite directions, a first disc washer on said boltwithin the connes of the upper cupped washer, a second disc washer onsaid bolt within the connes of said -lower cupped washer, a third`washer on the bottom of said bolt adapted to seat at times in saidinlet, a yielding means on said bolt having one end engaging said seconddisc washer and the other end engaging said third washer, each of saidcupped washers blocking the iiow of water therepast from one directionrespectively, said yielding means compressed by said plunger, said bolthead portion out of engagement with said shoulder, said third washerseated and said drain hole open when said valve stem is in its lowermostposition, and when said valve stem is being moved towards its uppermostposition, said bolt initially remaining stationary under tension of theexpanding yielding member to hold said third washer seated while saidcupped washers move upwardly on said bolt shank under pressure of saidexpanding yielding means sothat at least the -upper cupped washer closessaid drain hole and after which said shoulder engages said bolt headportion to move the same upwardly in unison with said valve stem andunseat said third washer.

5. In combination with a valve housing having an inlet and an outletlconnected by a water channel and having a side drain hole communicatingonly with said outlet, a valve assembly, comprising, a valve stemslidably disposed in said housing, means for moving the same in twovertical directions respectively, a cylindrical plunger secured to thebottom of said valve stem, an internal shoulder in said plunger, a bolthaving its head portion slidable and rotatable within said plungerintermediate said shoulder and the bottom of said valve stem, said bolthead portion engageable with said shoulder, a pair of cupped washersfrictionally slidably arranged on the shank portion of said bolt, saidwashers being adjacent each other and having their cupped portionsextending in opposite directions, a third washer on the bottom of saidbolt adapted to seat at times in said inlet, a, yielding means on saidbolt having one end engaging one o-f said cupped washers and the otherend engaging said third washer, each of said cupped washers blocking theflow of water therepast from one direction respectively, said yieldingmeans compressed by said plunger, said bolt head portion out ofengagement with said shoulder, said third washer seated and said drainhole open when said valve stem is in its lowermost position, and whensaid valve stem isbeing moved toward its uppermost position, said boltinitially remaining stationary under tension of the expanding yieldingmember to hold said third washer seated while said cupped washers moveupwardly on said bolt shank under pressure of said expanding yieldingmeans so that at least the upper cupped washer closes said drain holeand after which said shoulder engages said bolt head portion to move thesame upwardly in unison with said valve stem and unseat said thirdwasher.

6. In a hydrant of the class described, a housing having an inlet and anoutlet, a drain hole intermediate said inlet and outlet at one side ofsaid housing, an unobstructed water channel connecting said inlet andoutlet on the other side of said'housing, a valve assembly operable insaid housing intermediate said water channel and drain hole, said valveassembly comprising, a valve stem mounted to slide in said housing inthe direction of its length, a cylindrical plunger secured to the bottomof said valve stem, an

internal shoulder in said plunger, a bolt having its head portionslidable and rotatable within said plunger intermediate said shoulderand the bottom of said valve stem, said bolt head portion engageablewith said shoulder, a pair of cupped washers frictionally slidablyarranged on the shank portion of said bolt, said washers being adjacenteach other and having their cupped portions extending in oppositedirections, a rst disc washer on said -bolt within the confines of theupper cupped washer, a second disc washer on said bolt within theconfines of saidv lower cupped washer, a third washer on the bottom ofsaid bolt adapted to seat at times in said inlet, a yielding means onsaid bolt having one end engaging said second -dis-c washer and theother end engaging said third washer, each of said cupped washersblocking the flow of water therepast from one direction respectively,said bolt movable upwardly and downwardly at times in unison with saidvalve stem and being stationary at times during the movement of saidValve stem, movement of said cupped washers always being in unison withsaid valve stem, and one of said cupped washers operating to open andclose said drain hole.

7. In a hydrant of the class described, a housing having an inlet and anoutlet, a drain hole intermediate said inlet and outlet at one side ofsaid housing, an unobstructed water channel connecting said inlet andoutlet on the other side of said housing, a valve assembly operable insaid housing intermediate Said water channel and drain hole, said valveassembly comprising a valve stem mounted to slide in said housing in thedirection of its length, a cylindrical plunger secured to the bottom ofsaid valve stem, an internal shoulder in said plunger, a bolt having itshead portion slidable and rotatable within said plunger intermediatesaid shoulder and the bottom of said valve stem, said bolt head portionengageable with said shoulder, a pair of cupped washers frictionallyslidably arranged on the shank portion of said bolt, said washers beingadjacent each other and having their cupped portions extending inopposite directions, a third washer on the bottom of said bolt adaptedto seat at times in said inlet, a, yielding means on said bolt havingone end engaging one of said cup washers and the other end engaging saidthird washer, each of said cupped washers blocking the iiow of watertherepast from one direction respectively, said bolt movable upwardlyand downwardly at times in unison with said valve stem and beingstationary at times during the movement of said valve stem, movement ofsaid cupped washers always being in unison with said valve stem, and oneof said cupped washers operating to open and close said drain hole.

NOEL M. ANDERSON.

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